For a hitter, is it imperative to keep the left arm straight at the top of the backswing or are you allowed to bend it minimally?
With radial acceleration the goal, it's nice to have a radius (straight left arm). If the left arm is allowed to bend, the stage is set for a form of longitudinal acceleration. In the right arms effort to re-straighten the left arm in startdown, some energy has to move outward or away from the body. This would have to happen before using the straight line delivery path.
Can you hit without full extensor action? Sure, with well educated hands almost anything is possible. But, why make it more complicated than it has to be? Build a machine with as few moving parts as humanly possible, and you'll find the consistency for which you're searching.
Ted's 4th imperative: Extensor action
With radial acceleration the goal, it's nice to have a radius (straight left arm). If the left arm is allowed to bend, the stage is set for a form of longitudinal acceleration.
Yes, and yes.
I'd say swingers would have a much easier time losing extensor action and still have the ability to play well, although I'd never encourage it. At least centrifugal force will bring everything into alignment. But with hitting, we don't have that luxury.
We haven't even talked about the physical implications of the heavy club causing a hyper-extension of the left arm, which is highly possible if extension is re-gained around impact.
Hybrid Mode
